I would like to publicly commend the dining establishment Applebees for its social conscience and gratitude for the sacrifice and duty of our country’s military veterans. In an act of generosity and hospitality, they invited veterans to be their guests for dinner this past Veterans Day.

I and several of my fellow veterans who are residents at The Inn of Cass Lake accepted their gracious invitation. The staff that greeted and served us were welcoming, friendly and efficient. I pray that Applebees’ kindness to the veterans will ingratiate them with the public and will further their success.

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Guy Mastrangel

Waterford

Abortions shouldn’t be covered by default

Very soon, the Michigan Legislature will consider a bill to separate abortion coverage into a rider of health insurance, as permitted by the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”). Yet, abortion providers and advocates oppose this “Abortion Insurance Opt Out” legislation, saying that it imposes an unfair burden on women. They propose that the legislature defer to Michigan voters to decide.

Why should this private decision between a woman and her doctor become majority rule on who pays for it?

Some compare abortion to the removal of a lung diseased by cancer, but no surgeon has ever suggested planting a tree or writing a poem in memory of a diseased body part. Yet abortion providers offer suggestions like these to grieving women after an abortion.

Today, 95 percent of abortions in Michigan are paid for in cash. Although this percentage will likely go down as abortion insurance becomes more publicized, it demonstrates that self-pay is not burdensome. Women who would consider an abortion can purchase an abortion rider — comparable to purchasing collision insurance for a late model car while declining it for an older one — only cheaper. Those who skip the rider and find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy can seek assistance from the baby’s father or one of the abortion non-profits, as is done today.

Will Michigan join those states which compel unwilling participants to help women pay to have their unborn children killed? Or will the Legislature give us a choice as 22 other states now do?

Barb Yagley

Troy

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